A possible leak of Verizon's 'minimum advertised price' for the unreleased Motorola Xoom tablet lists a $799.99 price tag for the device, $70 more than a comparable iPad.

The leaked updates to Verizon's MAP pricing for the Xoom tablet were obtained by Android Central, though the report was quick to warn that the price could change before launch.

Google VP Andy Rubin showed off a prototype of the Motorola tablet in December. Motorola then released a teaser video for the tablet, downplaying the iPad as "like a giant iPhone" and touting the Motorola tablet as "the next chapter in tablet evolution."

Motorola formally unveiled the Xoom tablet at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, though the device was "not completely done." The Xoom will be the first tablet to run Google's Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, which has been "designed from the ground up for tablets."

The Xoom has a dual core 1GHz processor, 32GB of flash storage and front and rear cameras. The 10.1 inch screen has a resolution of 1280 by 800. Additional features include a built-in gyroscope, barometer, e-compass, accelerometer and adaptive lighting.

If the leaked price of $799 is to be believed, the Xoom would cost $70 more than the 32GB 3G iPad, which sells for $729. Motorola plans to release the device in the first quarter of this year.

The leak also listed update prices for several Motorola smartphones and the HTC Thunderbolt, which is listed at $249.99. According to the photos, the minimum advertising prices for the Thunderbolt and Xoom are valid from Jan. 21 to July 21.

Last October, Apple CEO Steve Jobs predicted that competitors would "have a tough time coming close to iPad's pricing" because Apple creates its own "A4 chip, software, battery chemistry, enclosure, everything."

Earlier this week, Apple Chief Operations Officer Tim Cook, who will fill in for Jobs during his recently announced medical leave of absence, downplayed concerns about rival tablets like the Xoom. "Theres nothing shipping yet, and they lack performance specs and pricing. Today theyre vapor," said Cook during the company's first fiscal quarter 2011 earnings call on Tuesday.

"However, were not sitting still," Cook continued. "We have a huge first-mover advantage. And a huge user advantage from iTunes to the App Store. Huge number of apps and an ecosystem. Were very confident entering into a fight with anyone."

Competition is always good. Android smartphones are looking better all the time and to the point where I'd buy one just as easily as buying an iPhone.

Is there anything close to the iPad right now? Not that I've seen, so Apple will maintain much of its lead this year. HP apparently has something on the WebOS front but it better make toast and drip coffee or something like that to take away sales from the iPad.

Dead, specially when people realize that they will be at the mercy of Moto and the carriers for any software update.

Quote:

Originally Posted by derekmorr

As opposed to folks being at the mercy of Apple for a software update?

Android devices can be rooted, any any number of custom OS images loaded. Give it time.

What the original poster meant of course is that Android devices are dependent on their carrier, not Google, to provide updates. And the carriers/manufacturers can modify Android any way they please, causing the fragmentation that is beginning to plague Android. iOS devices are updated directly by Apple without depending on some third party. But you already knew that didn't you and just wanted to troll your fandroidism.

And yeah, right, the average joe consumer is going to root his Android device and install some goofball custom OS. Not going to happen on any kind of scale, large or small. More like on a minuscule scale. But you already know that too don't you. Why does the tech tinkerer crowd think they represent the mass market and that tinkering ability trumps ease of use? Nonsense. Give it as much time as you want. It ain't gonna happen.

Android devices can be rooted, any any number of custom OS images loaded. Give it time.

If that's the "advantage", then the Xoom will definitely die quickly. How many more millions of iOS devices that continuously prove the naysayers wrong will it take to prove to folks like you that what's good for the tech-head/geek community is not what the masses want?

You're in a very, very small (albeit vocal) minority.

Besides, there's already tough-talk from Motorola going around with them locking down their devices to prevent folks from tinkering their devices. What makes you think they will honor the "openness" mantra of Android? A motorola spokesperson even said to folks like you to look elsewhere if you want an "open" device!

Good luck.

At least as iOS device will be upgradeable for the next few years when new releases of iOS comes out. Who's to say motorola will let that happen for any of their devices?

Don't you love how the pricing relation is against the iPad v1? When iPad 2 hits the market with more ram and speed, then what?

I don't think the Xoom will be DoA, but I do think it will not sell near as many units as iPads. I'm curious as to how all this competition will play out.

iPad2, iPad2... Retina, or close display. So far no one has brought up the fact of the storage capacity to offset the increased display resolution. There would have to be a jump in storage. Maybe topping 128? Every picture would take up 4X the space. So now you have a cost increase on the panel, but to retain the same user experience you need to upgrade the storage at the same price point...

Maybe I figured it wrong. I don't have the knowledge you guys do, but it seems to make sense.

I do think Honeycomb will win out in the end. Just because of its' nature. The iPad appeals to everyone. It offers the same experience to a 90 year old as it does to t 10 year old. Being simplistic could be iOS's biggest downfall.

If only we could combine iOS with Honeycomb and W7... Honestly, who here would hate having extra options? ...along with updated panels/icons?

If that's the "advantage", then the Xoom will definitely die quickly. How many more millions of iOS devices that continuously prove the naysayers wrong will it take to prove to folks like you that what's good for the tech-head/geek community is not what the masses want?

Youre already changin up your argument from "People do realize that this could be without a contract, right? to saying that this $799 price is with a contract on Verizon. Thats a record even for you.

PS Ill ignore your current "Didn't realize you worked for Apple or AT&T. Great sales line. and original "Oh, coming from an Apple fanboy, of course it is. comments as I backed you into a logic corner you couldnt get out of.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

What the original poster meant of course is that Android devices are dependent on their carrier, not Google, to provide updates. And the carriers/manufacturers can modify Android any way they please, causing the fragmentation that is beginning to plague Android.

*sigh* Do we really still have to go through this? Fragmentation is a myth. It's a non-issue drummed up to malign Android. There is zero evidence that this alleged "fragmentation" is causing problems -- Android is neck-and-neck with iOS in terms of total devices shipped, new devices activated, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkrupp

And yeah, right, the average joe consumer is going to root his Android device and install some goofball custom OS. Not going to happen on any kind of scale, large or small.

Why not? People install new versions of the OS on their laptops all the time. Why should phones and tablets be different ?

The difference is that this tablet will only have a 3G model at launch with Wi-Fi-only coming later. You'll need a contract, just like the 3G iPad..

The 3G iPad is an optional month-to-month plan that can be stopped and re-started any month without penalty. There is no subsidization of the 3G iPad by AT&T, which is why it costs more than the non-3G capable iPad.

The 3G iPad is an optional month-to-month plan that can be stopped and re-started any month without penalty. There is no subsidization of the 3G iPad by AT&T, which is why it costs more than the non-3G capable iPad.

Okay, then that's a poor example. A better example would be how the iPhone would be over $600 if you did not have a contract.

And thanks for your civilized response instead of "OMGZ YOU SAID THAT WRONG". Much appreciated.

Ooh, thanks for correcting the error. I did mean "with" a contract. Your arrogance helped me with that.

Yeah, you stated that, i corrected you several times already. Ill probably regret asking this but why do you think a tablet with the same capacity of the iPad 3G using equivalent HW for a YoY production model would still be $70 more expensive and still under contract when the iPad 3G is not? What is your reasoning that this device actually costs about $300-$400 more without contract?

PS: Adding a smily face to an insult make you look like a passive-agressive coward.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

It`s only $70 more than the closest comparable iPad with what seems to be superior specs and abilities.

Honeycomb looks sweet and this thing can do things the first gen iPad can`t.

Apple better come up with something good in the second gen iPad.

The base iPad starts at $499. Apple's average selling price for all iPads sold last quarter-- according to their last quarterly report-- was less than this device will cost. If you factor in first-mover advantages and word-of-mouth over the holidays, combined with Apple's huge retail presence, this tablet would have a hard time competing with the current iPad. It doesn't help matters that it will actually be competing with an upgraded iPad.